Jordan Morris and Paul Rothrock scored as the Seattle Sounders celebrated their 50th anniversary with a 2-0 victory against visiting Minnesota United in an MLS match Saturday night.
Stefan Frei didn’t have to make a save in posting the shutout for the Sounders (5-7-6, 21 points), who improved to 12-1-2 in their all-time series against the Loons — including 8-0-0 at Lumen Field.
Goalie Clint Irwin made two saves for Minnesota (8-4-5, 29 points).
The Sounders opened the scoring in the 28th minute. Albert Rusnak’s free kick from the right wing found Morris at the top of the 6-yard box in the middle of the pitch and his header took one bounce off the turf on its way just past a diving Irwin and inside the far post.
The Sounders nearly doubled their lead in the opening minute of the second half. Morris raced down the right wing and sent a cross atop the 6-yard box. Rothrock made a sliding attempt to reach the ball but redirected it just wide of the far post.
Minnesota had its best chance in the 54th minute, but Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s header off a corner kick sailed just over the crossbar.
Rothrock got his goal in the 57th minute. Leo Chu and Obed Vargas played a nifty give-and-go along the end line on the right wing, with Chu sending a low cross through the goalmouth and Rothrock got an outstretched leg on the pass to knock the ball into the far side of the net.
The match got off to a scary start as Minnesota’s Devin Padelford and Seattle’s Alex Roldan went up for header in the opening 15 seconds and butted heads. Both players went down for nearly five minutes and were taken out of the match.
Minnesota’s Moses Nyeman received a red card for a serious challenge on Rusnak in the 90th minute.
–Field Level Media
